Device for leading animals from burning buildings.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

B. E. HIGGINS.

DEVIGE FOR LEADING ANIMALS FROM BURNING BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION IILQED IEB.20,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

- E. E. HIGGINS.

a sums-sum 2.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.20.1905.

DEVICE FOR LEADING ANIMALS FROM BURNING BUILDINGS.

No. 813,496. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

E. E. HIGGINS. DEVICE FOR LEADING ANIMALS FROM BURNING BUILDINGS.

APPLICATION FILLED FEB-20, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ELMER E. HIGGINS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

DEVICE FOR LEADING ANIMALS FROM BURNING BUILDINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed February 20, 1905. Serial No. 246,583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for LeadingAnimals from Burning Buildings; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention has for its object to provide simple and efiicient meansfor leading a large number of horses or other animals from a stable incase of fire; and to the above ends the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations ofdevices hereinafter described, and defined inthe claims.

The great difliculty of removing horses and cattle from a burning barnis Well known. Where there are a large number of such animals to beremoved, a great many are almost certain to perish, as a great deal ofindividual eflort is required to untie and lead each animal from thebuilding. Furthermore, it is very dangerous to enter a stall with ahorse crazed by fire, even where there is no great danger from the fireitself. 7

In accordance with my invention I provide means whereby without enteringthe stable, or without entering the same to any great distance, all ofthe horses or cattle within the several stalls may be released and thenled from the stalls and out of the stable through one of the. doorwaysthereof.

This device in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout theseveral views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my im roved apparatus orfire-escape applied in wor ing position, the stalls and a portion of thebarn to which it is applied being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is avertical section taken on the line 90 as of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section taken on the line x of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aview corresponding to Fig. 2, but on a larger scale and showing theparts in different positions. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3,but illustrating a slightly-modified form of one of the detachableline-guides. Fig. 6 isa detail illustrating the construction of the headof the releasing device and the latchtherefor. Fig. 7 is a bottom planview of the arts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail in ont elevation,illustrating the construction of one of the hitching devices. Fig. 9 isa horizontal section on the line w as of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a verticalsection on the line 90 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detail in frontelevation, showing the upper portion of one of the guard-sheaths; andFig. 12 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

The numeral 1 indicates one wall of the barn, the same having theordinary dooropening 2, and the numeral 3 indicates the partitions ofthe several stalls, the same hav ing the usual mangers 4, all of whichparts are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. In Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and7 the numeral 5 indicates the ceiling of the barn, the same beingindicated by full lines.

To the wall or partition 6 of the barn, just above the several mangers4, are rigidly secured bearing-plates 7, having projecting bearing-lugs8, in which are loosely journaled the sections 9 of a rock-shaft, thesaid rockshaft having between the lugs 8 of the several plates 7crank-like coupling-sections 10, that rigidly unite the several sectionsof the said rock-shaft. These crank-like sections 10 are provided withlaterally-projecting hooks 11, that normally stand as indicated in Figs.1, 8, 9, and 10 by full lines. To one end of the sectional rock-shaftmade up of the parts 9 and 10 is secured a short arm 12, to which ispivoted a releasing-bar 13, preferably formed at its free end with ahandpiece 14, having a downturned end 15, affording one member of alatch. The said handpiece 14 is located, preferably, on the inside ofthe barn close to the door-opening 2, and, as shown, it works through akeeper-bracket 16,

1 having a perforation 17, with which the latch member 15 engages tolatch or lock the re leasing rock-shaft against rotation and thehitching-hooks 11 in the operative positions indicated.

The tie-straps 18 of the halters are tied to hitching-rings 19, whichrings, so called, may take any suitable form and to hitch the horses inthe stalls are applied to the hitching-hooks 11 of the releasingrock-shaft.

A plurality of overhead guide-rings 20, which rings may take anysuitable form, are supported from the ceiling of the barn at the rear ofthe several stallsthat is, one at the rear of each stall. Theseguide-rings 20 are detachably supported by a device of novelconstruction preferably arranged as follows: Rigidly secured to theceiling of the barn in JIC sliding bars or plungers 25, mounted in lugs26 on the respective brackets 21. The several plungers 25 are connected,preferably, by wires 27, and the inner end of the innermost plunger is,as shown, connected by a wire 28 to a spring-pressed plunger 29, mounted1n a box 30, rigidly secured on the ceiling, as best shown in Figs. 2and 7. The spring-pressed plunger 29 acting through the connectionsdescribed normally holds the fingers 24 in their operative positions,(shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7 thereby normally holding the guiderings inoperative positions.

To the outer end of the outermost plunger a light rod or wire 31 isattached, and this wire is attached to the inner end of a slide or tripplunger 32, mounted in a keeper 33, secured on the ceiling. By thespring-pressed plunger 29 the trip-plunger 32 is normally held in theposition indicated in Figs. 2 and 7, in which positions a notch 34thereof cooperates with the bottom portion of the keeper 33 to securelyhold a ring 35, the purpose of which will presently appear.

To lead the several horses from the barn, I provide a main lead-line 36,having a plurality of branch lines 37. This main lead-line, which may bein the form of a rope, cable, wire, strap, or other flexible connection,is passed through the several detachable guiderings 20, and its branchlines 37 extend one through each of said rings. From the sev eralguide-rings 20 the branch lines 37 extend along under the ceiling overthe stalls to the front wall 6 of the stalls, thence verticallydownward, and at their lower ends are at tached one to each of thedetachable hitching-rings 19.

To protect and support those portions of the branch lines 37 that extendvertically along the inner surface of the wall 6, hinged sheaths 38 areprovided. These sheaths are preferably formed of angle-iron, and attheir upper and lower ends they are provided with oflset hinge-trunnions39 and 40 respectively. The trunnions 39 are loosely mounted in lugsofbearings 41, rigidly secured to the wall ,6, while the trunnions 40are loosely mounted in lugs 42' on the heretofore noted bearingbrackets7. As is evident, any tension on the branch lines 37 will tend to movethe hinged sheaths 38 into open positions, (indicated by dotted lines inFig. 12,) thereby releasing said branch lines from their respectivesheaths. In the normal position of the parts, however, the sheaths areheld in their operative positions indicated in the drawings, this beingaccomplished by engagement of the ends of the hitching-hooks 11 withdepending portions 43, secured to the respective sheaths 38. (SeeparticularlyFigs. 9 and 10.) A gravity-held dog 44 is pivoted at 45 toeach bracket 7 in such position that it will normally stand as indicatedin Figs. 8 and 10, in which position it will perform no functionwhatever. These dogs 44 are serviceable in setting the apparatus forholding the sheaths 38 in operative positions temporarily when thehitching-hooks 11 are turned into releasing positions. (Indicated bydotted lines in Fig 10.) To render the dogs 44 temporarily operative forthe purpose ust noted, they are turned into horizontal positions, inwhich positions they will prevent releasing movements of the sheaths 38and in turn will be temporarily frictionally held by pressure thereonfrom the depending portions 43 of the respective sheaths due to tensionon the sheaths from the respective branch lines 37.

The outer end of the main lead-line 36 is preferably provided with ahand-ring 46, which may be conveniently hung on a hook 47, located nearthe doorway 2. The ring 35, before described, is connected by a shortline or flexible connection 48 to the main lead or line 36. Thisline-section 48 normally stands approximately as indicated in Figs. 2and 7 and should be in length approximately such that when the lead-lineis drawn upon the horses will be led to the rear ends of the stallsbefore it is drawn taut in the direction reversed from that indicated inFigs. 2 and 7.

For additional safety a short line 49 is attached to thetripping-plunger 32. As shown this line 49 is provided with a ring 50,which may be conveniently hung on a hook 51 near the doorway 2.

The operation of leading the horses from the barn is substantially asfollows: First, by raising and then drawing on the releasingrod 13 thesectional rock-shaft 9 10 is rocked and the-hitching-hooks 11 are turnedinto releasing position, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10,) therebyreleasing the several hitching-rings 19, which then remain attached onlyto the lower ends of the respective leadlines 37 This movement of thehitchinghooks 11 releases the sheaths 38, permitting them to swingontheir trunnions 39 and 40, and thereby release the said branch lineswhenever tension is put upon the same. Then by drawing on the outer endof the leadline 36 the several horses hitched to the branch linesthereof are led from the stalls into the aisle or passage-way back ofthe stalls. As so far described and up to this time the guide-rings 20have been held in operative position; but under continued movements ofthe lead-line the short connecting-line 48 will be drawn taut in thedirection indicated toward the right with re- IIO spect to Fig. 2 and bypulling on the ring will draw the plunger 32 toward the doorway untilits notch 34 will be carried beyond the bottom plate of the keeper 33,thereby releasing said ring 35. This movement of the releasing-plunger32 moves all of the connected plungers 35 and carries their fingers 24into the inoperative positions indicated in Fig. 4, thereby releasingthe detaining-levers 23 and dropping the several guide-rings 20. Thishaving been done, the main lead-line, its branch lines, and all partspermanently connected thereto are released, so that the horses may beled from the barn. The line 49 is provided, as already stated, simplyfor additional safety and affords means for releasing the severalguide-rings 20 independently of the action of the lead-line.

In Fig. 5 the detachable guide-rings are aflorded by yokes 52, providedwith antifriction-rollers 53, the said yokes being adapted to be held bythe detaining levers or arms 23 in the same manner as the rings 20.

As a means for leading a large number of horses at one time from a barn,the apparatus above described has in practice been found extremelyefficient for the ,purposes had in view. The value of a device of thischaracter will be readily appreciated without any further comment. Thedevice is simple, reliable in its action, and may be installed at acomparatively small cost.

From what has been said it will be understood that the device describedis capable of many modifications within the scope of my invention asherein set forth and claimed.

The several so-called branch lead-lines 37 might all be carried throughthe guiding device described and be brought to the operating station orpoint near the doorway of the barn; but this arrangement would be theequivalent of the main lead-line having a plurality of branches andwould be within the scope of the claims of this application.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- {zers Patent of the UnitedStates, is as fol- OWS I r 1. In a device of the character described,the combination with a main lead-line having a plurality of branch linesextending into the stalls and provided with devices to which the horsesmay be hitched, locks for locking and releasing said branch lines, areleasing connection for said locks extending to a distant point, guidesfor said branch lines located at the rear portions of the stalls, and aconnection between said lead-line and said rear guides, for releasingthe latter, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a main lead-line having a plurality of branch linesextending into the several stalls and provided with devices to which thehorses may be hitched, locks for locking and releasing said branchlines, means for operating said locks from a distant point to releasesaid branch lines, guides for said branch lines in the form of rings,detaining devices normally holding said rings at the rear of therespective stalls, and connections between said main lead-line and theseveral detaining devices for operating the same to release the severalguide-rings, under a movement of said main lead-line, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mainlead-line having a plurality of branch lines extending into the severalstalls and provided with rings to which the horses may be hitched, locksnormally holding said rings, means for operating said locks to releasesaid hitchin -rings, hinged sheaths normally holding said branch linesin position, themselves held in operative positions by the respectivering-holdin locks and arranged to be released when sai locks areactuated to release said hitching-rings, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination withdetaining-latches located at the rear of the stalls, and guideringsnormally held thereby, of a main leadline and branch lead-lines workingthrough said guide-rings, said branch lines having, at their ends,hitching-rings, a rock-shaft having a plurality of hitching-hooks actingas locks, located at the front of the stalls and normally holding saidhitching-rings, means for rocking said shaft to release the severalhitching-rings, and a connection between said main lead-line and theseveral detaininglatches for releasing the several guide-rings, under amovement of said lead-line required to lead the horses from thebuilding, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mainlead-line having a plurality of branches extending into the severalstalls and provided with devices to which the horses may be hitched, ofguides for the several branch lines arranged to be released by amovement of said lead-line, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER E. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

J. W. LANSING, F. D. MERCHANT.

